Aerosol dispenser having a top wall recessed to accommodate a valve button



May 26, 1964 P. H. SAGARIN ETAL 3,134,513

AEROSOL DISPENSER HAVING A TOP WALL RECESSED TO ACCOMMODATE A VALVE BUTTON Filed Sept. 14, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l 70 422 66 'i 5 l I I 2 5 ,Z 9 ,20 367 3 24 30 42 3 I 52 34 0 i i I H.

5 66a i 10 3661- Ii 1 l I i' 78 i 14 v 82 76 E 95 INVENTOR5 P/u'Zip H S fari/u William R. 0'Dan/76Z Z WMQQLMR HEEN T y 1964 P. H. SAGARIN ETAL 3,134,518

AEROSOL DISPENSER HAVING A TOP WALL RECESSED TO ACCOMMODATE A VALVE BUTTON Filed Sept. 14, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TQRS P/u' [6,0 11. Saga/ 01,

Q IMJJLM United States Patent AEROSGL DiSPENSER HAVENG A Ti}? "WALL REfiESSED It} AQCGh iM-ODATE A VALVE BUTIGN Philip H. Sagarin, Bridgeport, and William R. GDonneii, Trum'nnii, Conn, assignors to VCA llncorpcrated, Bridgeport, Conn, a eorperation of (Ionnecticut Fiied Se t. 14, 196i Ser. 55,993 18 Qlaims. (Ci. ZZZ-3%) This invention relates to small aerosol dispensers of the type adapted to be held in the hand, and more particularly to dispensers of this kind which are constituted to a great extent of plastic parts or components.

The invention effects certain improvements in aerosol dispensers of the above general type, as does also the invention of applicants copending application Serial No. 20,890 filed April 8, 1960, and entitled Aerosol Device, now abandoned, which involves somewhat related subject matter.

In this copending application there is described an aerosol dispenser comprising a small all-plastic container of generally tubular form having at its top end a recess in which the lower portion of the valve actuator button is disposed. The upper part of the button projects a substantial distance from the top edge of the container, and a side wall of the latter has an opening spaced a short distance from the top edge, through which an orifice portion of the button extends, such arrangement and side opening functioning to hold the button captive in the top recess. The said orifice portion, in applicants copending application, is shown as constituted of a separate piece, which is put in place by an assembly operation after first inserting the button in the top recess and applying it to the valve actuator stern.

By the present invention the said assembly operation is eliminated by a construction wherein the side opening of the container is brought up through the top edge there of, and wherein retention of the button is eifected by more deeply recessing the top container end and likewise more deeply seating the button.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved aerosol device of the kind outlined, wherein the assembly is simplified and effected with fewer operations, thereby reducing the cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved aerosol dispenser as above characterized, wherein there are had simplified, effective and reliable means for indicating the direction of the spray, and wherein a single size of valve actuator button may be used for both concentric and eccentric locations of the same as desired to suit different conditions of use. In accomplishing this, the invention provides an organization wherein the notch formed by the side opening, together with the eccentricity of the button is utilized as the direction indicator, or wherein for the case of a concentric button, the said notch and an easily visible orifice or discharge portion of the button is indicative of the direction of the spray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved, small aerosol dispenser in accordance with the foregoing, wherein there is effected a maximum utilization of space at the top portion or end of the container adjacent the valve and valve actuator button. This is accomplished, according to the invention, by the provision of a transverse pressure-resistant top wall constituting a closure for the container, said wall having a deep, relatively larger recess in which the valve actuator button is virtually completely accommodated or received except for the top, finger-engageable surface thereof. Surrounding or located horizontally of the actuator button is the uppermost space or volume of the container, such space or volume having a crescent shape where both the con- 3,i3 l,5i8 Patented May 26, 1954 tainer and the actuator button are made circular, as in one embodiment of the invention.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved all-plastic container for a pressurized aerosol device, which container is closed and sealed by a plastic plug or disk utilizing a heat-generating, spinning operation which efiects a fusing of the mutually engaging plastic surfaces, the arrangement being characterized by the absence of any burrs or flashings which would require removal at a later, secondary operation.

An additional object of the invention is to provide, in a small hand-held aerosol dispensing device, an improved means for enabling virtually a complete, reliable and unfailing pressurized emptying of the device to be had. This is of considerable importance, especially in small-size aerosol devices containing perfumes or other liquid substances which are costly on the basis of volume and/or weight. The invention accomplishes this complete emptying of the container by providing a small, capillary-action wick which is carried by the free end of the dip tube, and wick being disposed along the bottom wall of the container and absorbing the last portions of the liquid substance when the container becomes emptied, transferring said substance into the dip tube whereby the pressurized gas within the container will efliect the discharge of the substance from the discharge orifice.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified metering valve construction which provides a smooth and non-binding action of the valve stem at all times, notwithstanding the absence of critical tolerances and the utilization of but few, inexpensively produced parts or components. In eifecting the improved non-binding valve action the valve stem, which passes through and has a bearing in an annular valve seat, is slitted for a portion of its length at the lower end whereby it is readily radially compressible and has a soft, yielding action when being guided because it easily reduces in diameter, thereby obviating the necessity for a close fit and/or critical tolerances between the stem and annular valve seat.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, which show several embodiments of the invention, similar parts or components have been given like reference characters wherever possible throughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view taken through an aerosol device made in accordance with the invention and illustrating an ofi-center or eccentric disposition of the valve means and valve actuator button.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the aerosol device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the aerosol device.

PEG. 4 is an axial sectional view somewhat similar to that of FIG. 1, showing a modification having concentric or centralized disposition of the valve means and actuator button.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the aerosol device of 1 16.4.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an aerosol dispenser illustrating another modification of the invention.

PEG. 7 is a top plan view similar to that of FIG. 6, but illustrating yet another modification of the invention.

Referring first to FTGS. 13, the aerosol dispenser illustrated therein comprises a pressurized tubular plastic container it) which is similar in a number of respects to the container disclosed in our copending application above identified. The container 1G is preferably formed by molding, being shown as having substantially cylindrical side walls 12 and a conical or outwardly flared base portion 14, the latter being made with a large filling openin simple manner.

through which the aerosol substance is poured during the process of filling the container.

In accordance with, the present invention, the upper portion or top end of the container is constructed in a novel manner, by which a number of important advan tages are had; A reliable and easily understood indication is given to'the user as to the direction of the spray, such indication being eifected in a novel and extremely Moreover, the novel top construction provides for a maximum utilization of the available space whereby the container has the greatest possible useful volume notwithstanding the incorporation of the valve means and valve actuator button. Added convenience is bad with regard to actuation of the valve. when the container is placed into use. Moreover, the top construction of the container is such as to eliminate to the maximum extent protruding or unsightly parts and at the same time to provide increased reliability and smoothness in the functioning of the control valve.

Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the invention provides a novel pressure-resistant top closure wall 16 which meets and is preferably integral with the cylindrical side walls 12 as clearly seen in FIG. 1. The top wall 16 extends transversely across the top end of the container, preferably at a slight angle with respect to an imaginary transverse plane which is perpendicular tothe axis of the container. The top wall 16 comprises a generally flat uppermost portion 18 and an integral, deeply recessed portion 20, the latter having cylindrical side walls 22 and a transverse bottom wall 24 which preferably has a raised central portion 26 together with a centrally located discharge passage 28. The raised portion 26 of the recessed wall portion 24 is joined to the latter by a short cylindrical wall section 30.

Mounted on and carried by the recessed wall portion 24 and raised center wall portion 26 is a control valve assemblage 32 similar in many respects tothat illustrated and described in our above-identified copending application. The'valve assemblage 32 comprises a valve housing 34 which, together with a resilient main valve disk 36, is press fitted in the cylindrical wall section 30 of the top wall construction, being retained therein by an annular bead or shoulder 38. Within the. valve housing 34 is a helical compression spring 40, hearing against a valve shoulder 42 provided on a longitudinally slidable valve stem 44, thereby to bias the stem and the valve shoulder a button, such member being passed through a clearance,

42 upward and to hold the latter against the valve disk 36 so as to normally close the discharge opening 28 at the upper portion of the container 10.

The valve stem 44 has a longitudinal bore 48 disposed in its upper portion, communicating with a lateral bore 44 which is normally located above the raised wall section 26. Depressing the valve stem 44 separates the valve shoulder 42 fromtnevalve disk 36 and disposes the lateral of the container 10.

The present invention provides for an eccentric location. of the valve assemblage 32.and recessed wall portion 20 at the top end of the container 10, as is readily seen from FIGS. 1 and 2. By such organization, in conjunction with the deep recessing of the top wall 16, there exists an uppermost space or volume, indicated at 62 in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is disposed at a level above the recessed wall portion 24, 25 and above the valve assemblage 32 v.carried thereby, being located laterally or horizontally of and with respect to a valve actuator knob 64 carried by the upper portion of the valve stem 44. Thus, maximum utilization of the available space about the actuator knob and valve assemblage is had by the above-described novel top wall construction of the aerosol device.

Further, in accordance with the invention, the side walls 12 of the container it are provided with a novel type of discharge opening or recess 66 adjacent the depress button 64, said discharge recess being in the form of a slot incorporated in it the orifice member, was applied to the protruding portion of the valve stem, and thereafter the separate orifice member was assembled to the side of the discharge hole in the upper side wall of the container and functioning to retain the depress button captive on the valve stem and in place within the upper wall portion of the container. By the present construction, the orifice 73 of a separate member may be preassembled to the depress button 64 or else it may be constituted as an integral portion of the button 64 as shown in FIG. 1. With this latter construction there is eliminated the assembly operation involving applying the discharge orifice member to the depress button after the latter has first been positioned on the valve stem.

According to the present invention, satisfactory retention'of the depress button 64 on the stem 44 is effected in another manner, by virtually completely enclosing the sides of the depress button through effecting a deeper recess in the top wall 16. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the

depress button :64 protrudes only a very small distance from the fiat upper wall surfacelS of the container10. Further, a snug frictional press fit is provided between the top portion of the valve stem 44 and the bore of the button 64. We have found that, by virtue of these changes and innovations, there'is now had a satisfactory provision of the open-ended notch 66 and the eccentric .point closely adjacent the bottom closure disk or plug 60 location of the valve actuator button 64 and of the de:

pressed top Wall portion 2% of the container provides an gestive of anv opening through which the contents of the container may be discharged; Thus, the above structures, while providing for added simplicity and ease of assembly, also give a reliable indication as to the direction of the spray, which is of considerable importance in the use of aerosol devices.

Where the aerosol device comprises a container the size of which is relatively small to begin with, the matter of obtaining the maximum volumetric capacity is of importance. With the present invention the provision of the crescent-shaped uppermost space or volume 62 surrounding the depress button 64 and valve assemblage 32 provides for a maximum utilization of space and enables containers of a given size to have a maximum useful volume.

In efiecting improvement in aerosol containers of the instant type, especially as regards an increased reliability of operation and reduced number of components and assembly operations resulting in a reduction in the cost, the invention further provides an improved sealing or closure construction at the bottom, flared end portion 14 of the container 19. As seen in FiG. l, the bottom edge portion of the container has a depending flared skirt 74 above which there is an annular sealing abutment shoulder 76, together with a tapered or conical sealing surface 78 connecting the shoulder 7d with the inner cylindrical surface 89 of the container side walls 12. The closure disk or plug 69 has a tapered or conical sealing surface 32 which is cooperable with the tapered sealing surface 78, and has a peripheral annular abutment portion 84 which is engageable with the annular sealing shoulder 76. The closure disk 69 is attached to the bottom of the container 1% after the latter has been filled through the bottom with the aerosol substance, such attachment being effected by a spinning operation performed on the closure, which melts and fuses the engaging surfaces of the closure disk and the bottom edge of the container. By the provision of the double seal represented by the shoulder 76 and the conical sealing surface 78 which are engaged respectively with the periphery 84 and sealing surface 72 of the disk, there results an extremely effective and reliable air and liquid-tight closing of the container while at the same time elimination of any flashings or burrs at the juncture is had, which would otherwise require an additional or secondary finishing operation. We have found that when the diameter of the closure plug or disk 60 is made sufliciently large or oversized to provide a snug fit in the bottom end of the container 10, the spinning of the plug in place and melting of the plastic substance Will cause a complete seating and fitting of the plug, and the slight excess plastic material, because of the shoulder, skirt and tapered construction employed, will be thrown ofif during the spinning and under any circumstance will not remain at the bottom of the container to require a separate removal operation. Moreover, the double surfaced seal effectively contains the pressurized contents of the container, and prevents loss of pressure, or loss of any of the aerosol substance.

in effecting a smoother valve action while eliminating critical tolerances in the valve assemblage, the invention provides a novel organization involving the annular metering valve seat 38 provided in the valve housing 34. Instead of utilizing a clearance flat on the lower end portion of the valve stem 44 as is disclosed in our copending application above identified, by the present invention the lower end portion of the valve stem 44 is longitudinally slitted, starting at the bottom end of the stem and extending upward an appreciable extent, this resulting preferably in a diametric slit 9%. The valve stem 44 may be advantageously fabricated of a resilient plastic substance such as polyethylene, Delrin plastic or the like, and the slitted portion of the stem as Well as that part of the stem body which is surrounded by the compression spring 49 is preferably made to have substantially the same size or diameter. Normally, as seen in FIG. 1, the slitted portion or bottom end of the valve stem 44 extends through the annular metering valve seat 88, and there is thus provided a guide for the stern, acting in conjunction with the guiding function of the valve disk 36 and helical compression spring 40. The slitted bottom portion of the valve stem 44, by virtue of the yieldable or resilient nature of the valve stem material, may be easily diametrically or radially compressed, and in consequence there is eliminated any tendency for binding to occur because of the guiding action of the annular valve seat 38 on the valve stem. Instead, a smooth non-sticking action ensues, even though critical tolerances are not observed but instead variations in dimensions of the valve seat and valve stem exist. The slit 9% provides a passage for the aerosol substance whereby such substance may pass into the metering and spring chamber 52 within the valve housing 34, from the dip tube 56. However, when the depress button 64 is depressed, shifting downward the valve stem 44, the metering valve comprising the seat 88 and the smooth non-slitted portion of the valve stem 44 will be closed, preventing further ingress of aerosol substance into the metering chamber 52. At the same time, the substance which has initially entered such chamber may be discharged through the passages 50, 48 and the discharge orifice portion 79, as will be understood.

The invention further provides an improvement in small hand-held aerosol devices by which virtually all of the aerosol substance may be discharged and consumed, this being of particular advantage in connection with the use of expensive perfumes and other costly liquids. In accomplishing this, referring to FIG. 1 again, we provide at the lower end portion 53 of the dip tube 5'6 an elongate wick 94 which extends a short distance into the free end 58 of the dip tube and is retained and carried thereby, the remainder of the wick 94 extending along and lying on the bottom closure disk 66 of the container. The wick 94 may be constituted of any suitable absorbent material, such as cotton, synthetic fibers and the like, and preferably has a capillary action by which any residue substance in the container when the latter is virtually empty will be absorbed by the wick and conducted to the lower portion of the dip tube 56 so as to be subjected to the action of pressure within the container it) and to be thereby discharged through the valve assemblage and orifice in the usual manner. We have found that by the provision of the wick 94 virtually all of the aerosol substance may be readily utilized and dispensed, thus eliminating waste which would otherwise occur if a small amount of the substance were to remain in the container and be incapable of discharge in the intended manner.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this embodiment the container lilo has a concentrically arranged, pressure-resistant top transverse wall 16a carrying the valve assemblage 32 and valve actuator button 64 as above described. The side walls 12:: of the container 19a are extended upward beyond the transverse top wall 16a, so as to constitute a high annular flange 96 surrounding the depress button 64, the flange 96 having an open-ended discharge slot 66a disposed alongside the button 64 to provide clearance for the discharge orifice 70 and to enable the aerosol substance to be freely sprayed from the depress button. The presence of the open-ended notch 66a is clearly indicative of the direction of the spray, just as is the case with the open-ended notch 66 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The top edge 6&1 of the flange or collar 96 lies in a plane which slopes slightly with respect to an imaginary plane normal to the axis of the container, as may be readily seen in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention wherein the depress button 64b is concentrically located with respect to the top of the container, and wherein a substantially crescent-shaped or C-shaped volume or space 6212 is provided in the container upper portion and surrounding the button 64]), this being effected by a construction similar to that shown in FIG. 1 except that the depressed or recessed wall portion is centrally instead of eccentrically located in the top end Wall. The discharge notch 66b has walls 98 defining the blunt ends of the circular-shaped volume 62b, and the orifice portion 7% of the button 64b has a greater length and projects a greater distance from the button, than the orifice portion 70 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 6 the orifi e POI-r tion7llb is shown as tapered, and such portion is indicative of the direction of the spray, in conjunction with the provision of the open-ended notch 6612, as will now be understood.

Still'mother modification of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 7,'wherein the structures shown are generally similar to those of FIG. 6 with the exception that the button 640 has an orifice portion 'illc which is not tapered but instead has parallel opposite sides, as may be readily observed. Otherwise, the constructions of FIGS. 6 and 7 are generally alike, both having the depress button concentrically disposed in the top end of the container, and having extended-orifice portions projecting through open-ended slots of the container, thereby to. indicate the direction of the spray from the aerosol device.

It willnow be understood from the foregoing that we have provided numerous improvements in small hand-held areosol devices, especially those constituted mainly of plastic parts and components, whereby the number of components and number of assembly operations have been reduced, and the smoothness and reliability of operation and functioning appreciably increased, thus effecting an improved product while at the same time reducing cost. It has been found that areosol devices as constructed in accordance with the invention are entirely practical, and have been commercially acceptable on a large scale, finding ready acceptance in the trade.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improv merits may be used withoutothers.

We claim:

l. A pressurized aerosol device comprising a container of thermoplastic substance, said container having a circular opening in which there is an annularinternal shoulder constitutinga circular abutment, the container wall located inwardly of said abutment and adjoining the same having a side-sealing surface sloping to a small diameter inwardly of the container; and a plug-like stopper of per shoulder.

3. In a pressurized aerosol device, in combination, a valve housing having main and metering valve seats; and a valve stem slidably mounted in the valve housing, said stem passing through the valve seats, one end of the stem being longitudinally slitted to provide a passage for the aerosol substance and being radially compressible in consequence of such slitting, said slitted end being disposed in the metering valve seat and being slidable therein without binding while closely frictionally fitting the said seat.

4. A pressurized dispensing device comprising an upright molded plastic hollow body having a configuration generally similar to a regular geometric solid, said hollow body forming an integral molded container and the uppermost end portion of said body further having a girth commensurate with the maximum girth of the remainder of the body, said body having upright and substantially straight and vertical side walls comprising said uppermost end portion, said'end portion having a relatively deep recess; a valve structure carried by said body adjacent the top thereof just below said recess; one of, said side walls and also the uppermost endportion of the body both having in common a through lateral discharge opening communicating with the top-end recess; and a manually operable valve button movably carried in the g top-end recess substantially wholly Within the confines of the recess and having'a discharge orifice portion being adapted to discharge aerosol substance through the discharge opening upon actuationof the valve button.

5. A pressurized dispensing device comprising an upright molded plastic hollow body having a configuration generally similar to a regular geometric solid, said hollow body forming an integral molded container and said body further having a top end and upright and substantially straight and vertical side walls connected to said top end, said top end having a relatively deep recess; a valve structure carried by said top end just below said recess; a side Wall and top peripheral portion of the body having a through lateral discharge opening communicating with the top-end recess at said peripheral edge portion of the body; and a manually operable valve button movably carried in the top-end recess substantially wholly within the confines of the recess and having a discharge orifice portion adjacent the lateral dischargeopening', said orifice portion being adapted to discharge aerosol substance.

through the discharge opening upon actuation of the valve button, the recess in the top end having a major portion which accommodates the valve button, said major portion being eccentrically located in said top end and being disposed closest to that side wall which has the discharge recess.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 in which the recess in the top end has a depth greater than the height of the discharge recess in the side wall, the bottom of the top-end recess being disposed in a plane below the bottom end of the discharge opening.

' 7. The invention as defined in claim 4 in which the recess in the top end has a major portion which is centrally disposed therein, and spaced from the side walls of the body, and has a connector portion extending radially to the side wall recess.

8. The invention as defined in claim 4 in which the recess in the top end extends to all the side walls whereby the latter define the limits of the top-end recess.

9. A pressurized dispensing device comprising an upright moldedplastic hollow body having a configuration generally similar to a regular geometric solid, said hollow body forming an integral molded container and said.

body further having a top end and upright and substantially straight and vertical side Walls connected to said top end, said top end having a relatively deep recess; a valve structure carried by said top end just below said recess; a side wall and top peripheral portion of the body having a through lateral discharge opening communicating with the top-end recess at said-peripheral edge portion of the body; and a manually operable valve button movably carried in the top-end recess substantially wholly within the confines of the recess and having a discharge orifice portion adjacent the lateral, discharge opening, said orifice portion being adapted to discharge aerosol substance through the discharge opening upon actuation of the valve button, the highest interior space in the container being disposed horizontally of and alongside the top wall recess, said highest interior space being higher than the bottom of the recess.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 inwhich the container and valve button are substantially cylindrical, said valve button being generally tangentially disposed with respect to the inside of the container side wall.

11. A pressurized dispensing device comprising an upright molded plastic body including an integral molded container portion, said body having upright'substantially vertical side walls and said container portion having a top valve-carrying wall subjected to the internal pressures in the container portion as produced by the aerosol substance therein, said top wall having a downwardly displaced portion located within said side walls and .pro- .viding a relatively deep, upwardly opening recess, the

uppermost interior space of said container which is located immediately below the highest portion of the top wall being disposed generally at at least one side of said recess; valve means located within the side Walls and carried by the top wall, said means being disposed within the container at a location below the said recess; and a valve actuator button located in the said recess, said button being disposed horizontally of the said uppermost interior space of the container.

12. A pressurized dispensing device comprising an upright molded plastic body including an integral molded container, said body having upright substantially vertical side walls and having a top valve-carrying wall constituting the uppermost boundary of the container, said wall being subjected to the internal pressures in the container as produced by the aerosol substance therein and having a downwardly displaced portion located within said side walls and providing a relatively deep, upwardly opening recess, the uppermost interior space of said container which is located immediately below the highest portion of the top wall being disposed generally at a number of opposite sides of said recess; valve means located within the side walls and carried by the top wall, said means being disposed within the container at a location below the said recess; and a valve, actuator button located substantially wholly in the said recess, said button having a finger engageable top wall and being disposed horizontally of the said uppermost interior space of the container and a major portion of the button being located below the level of the top edges of the vertical side walls, said pressure-subjected top wall of the container and the top wall of the button being engageable simultaneously by the finger which actuates the button.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12, in which a side wall of the container at the top thereof has a discharge recess, said top wall recess having a portion extending to and communicating with the said discharge recess.

14. A pressurized dispensing device comprising an upright molded plastic body including an integral molded container, said body having upright substantially vertical side walls and having a top valve-carrying wall subjected to the internal pressures in the container as produced by the aerosol substance therein, said top wall having a downwardly displaced portion located within said side walls and providing a relatively deep, upwardly opening recess, the uppermost interior space of said container which is located immediately below the highest portion of the top wall being disposed generally at a number of opposite sides of said recess; valve means located within the side walls and carried by the top wall, said means being disposed within the container at a location below the said recess; and a valve actuator button located substantially wholly in the said recess, said button being disposed horizontally of the said uppermost interior space of the container and a major portion of the button being located below the level of the top edges of the vertical side walls, said top wall being substantially circular, and the recess in the top wall being circular, and said uppermost interior space of the container being of crescent-shaped configuration.

15. The invention as defined in claim 14 in which the container is tubular, and in which the top wall is planar and slopes with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the container.

16. A closure and actuator construction for an aerosol dispenser comprising, in combination:

(a) a hollow body structure having a tubular side wall and an expansive, transverse top wall connected to the upper portion of the side wall,

(1)) said top wall having an access opening communicating with the bore of the side wall, to accommodate a valve actuator button,

(a) said top wall and side wall having adjoining communicating openings which together constitute a notch extending from the access opening to the outer periphery of the body structure,

(d) a valve actuator button movable in the bore of the side wall and having a top engageable by a finger to depress the button, said top wall of the button being accessible through the access opening in the top wall ofthe body structure,

(2) said actuator button having a laterally-projecting discharge orifice portion disposed and movable in the said notch of the body structure, the end of the projecting orifice portion having a discharge orifice to provide for lateral discharge of aerosol substance with respect to the body structure,

(1) said actuator button and orifice portion being removable as a unit from the body structure upward past the said top wall of the structure.

17. A closure and actuator construction for an aerosol dispenser comprising, in combination:

(a) a hollow body structure having spaced inner and outer tubular walls and an expansive, transverse top wall connecting the upper portions of said inner and outer walls to each other,

(b) said top wall having an access opening com municating with the bore of the said inner wall, to accommodate a valve actuator button,

(0) said top wall, inner and outer walls having adjoining communicating openings which together constitute a notch extending from the bore of the inner Wall to the outer periphery of the body structure,

(d) a valve actuator button movable in the bore of the inner wall and having a top wall engageable by a finger to depress the button, said top wall of the button being accessible through the access opening in the top wall of the body structure,

(e) said actuator button having a laterally-projecting discharge orifice portion disposed and movable in the said notch of the body structure, the end of the projecting orifice portion having a discharge orifice to provide for lateral discharge of aerosol substance with respect to the body structure,

(f) said actuator button and orifice portion being removable as a unit from the body structure upward past the said top wall of the structure.

18. A closure and actuator construction for an aerosol dispenser comprising, in combination:

(a) a hollow upright body structure having a tubular side wall and a large diameter, transverse top surface constituting the uppermost part of the body, said top surface meeting the other surface of the side wall and extending laterally thereof,

(b) said top surface having a large access opening communicating with the space at the interior of the side wall and being adapted to accommodate a valve actuator button,

(0) said top surface and side wall both having adjoining communicating openings which together constitute a single notch extending from the access opening to the outer side periphery of the body structure,

((1') a valve actuator button movable in the space at the interior of the side wall and having a top wall engageable by a finger to depress the button, said top wall of the button being accessible through the access opening in the top surface of the body structure,

(e) said actuator button having a laterally-projecting discharge orifice portion disposed and movable in the said notch of the body structure, the end of the projecting orifice portion having a discharge orifice to provide for lateral discharge of aerosol substance with respect to the body structure,

(1) said actuator button and orifice portion being removable as a unit from the body structure upward past the said top surface of the structure.

(References on following page) 11' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Andersonet a1. June 8, 1949 Brown Nov. 28, 1950 5 Barton Mar. 27, 1951 Fooshee Nov. 10, 1953 Oldenburg Dec. 8, 1953 12 r Tuttle June 15, 1954 Johnson et a1. -1 Apr. 19, 1955 St, Germain May 22, 1956 Pritchard Feb. 1 9, 1957 Manetti May 20, 1958' Grebowiec June 3, 1958 Elser Dec. 9, 1958 North Dec. 1, 1959 

3. IN A PRESSURIZED AEROSOL DEVICE, IN COMBINATION, A VALVE HOUSING HAVING MAIN AND METERING VALVE SEATS; AND A VALVE STEM SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE VALVE HOUSING, SAID STEM PASSING THROUGH THE VALVE SEATS, ONE END OF THE STEM BEING LONGITUDINALLY SLITTED TO PROVIDE A PASSAGE FOR THE AEROSOL SUBSTANCE AND BEING RADIALLY COMPRESSIBLE IN CONSEQUENCE OF SUCH SLITTING, SAID SLITTED END BEING DISPOSED IN THE METERING VALVE SEAT AND BEING SLIDABLE THEREIN WITHOUT BINDING WHILE CLOSELY FRICTIONALLY FITTING THE SAID SEAT. 